HEDA faults CBN on state LG funds, alleges contempt of S’Court ruling
Following a trending disturbing video on social media where the Sole Administrator of Ahoada-East in Rivers State, Goodluck Iheamnacho, was brutalised by suspected thugs at the council secretariat, the state Police Command has invited the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and the Chief of Staff (COS) for questioning. 
 
The Police Command, in a statement by its spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, condemned the attack, describing it as conspiracy, violent attack, assault occasioning harm and stealing.
 
Iringe-Koko, who noted that the Command is aware and deeply disturbed by what she described as a heinous attack on Iheamnacho, explained that on June 20, 2025, a group of suspected hoodlums numbering about 30, led by the Chief Security Officer (CSO, Mr Hector Ekakita, and the Chief of Staff (COS) to the sole administrator stormed the council secretariat and attacked him.  
 
She further explained that during the attack, the hoodlums assaulted the Sole Administrator, stole his mobile phones, forced him to sign a letter purporting his resignation, and carted away vital documents, including official and personal documents from his office.  
 
She, however, noted that the Administrator is currently undergoing medical treatment due to the injuries sustained during the attack, adding that he is, however, in stable condition.
 
She said: “The Rivers State Police Command unequivocally condemns this reprehensible act and has taken swift action.”Meanwhile, she disclosed that the Commissioner of Police, CP Olugbenga Adepoju, after visiting the scene of the attack with heads of other sister security agencies in the state, directed the Chief Security Officer (CSO), Chief Of Staff (COS), and all those involved in this action to report to the Police State Headquarters, Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, for questioning.

IN another development, the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has condemned the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over its response to a letter demanding the suspension of local council allocations to Rivers State, describing the Bank’s position as artful dodging and a clear display of contempt for the Supreme Court.

In a statement signed by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, HEDA stated that the CBN’s justification, based on pending litigation, demonstrates a blatant disregard for the Supreme Court’s definitive interpretation of Section 162 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), particularly the judgment in AG Federation vs. AG Abia State & Ors (2004) 17 NWLR (Pt. 1966) 1.

The court had ruled unequivocally that allocations must be paid directly to democratically elected local councils.